· Vatican City ·

Former Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and former Palestinian Minister for Foreign Affairs Al-Kidwa meet with Pope Francis

Peace proposal

 Pope presented with Holy Land peace perspective   ING-042
18 October 2024

“It was an important and emotional meeting. The Holy Father showed extraordinary interest in the peace efforts in the Middle East”, said 78-year old Ehud Olmert, former Prime Minister of Israel, who was received by Pope Francis on Thursday morning, 17 October, along with former Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Nasser Al-Kidwa, and a delegation of peace activists. Olmert, who served as prime minister until 2009, played an important role in past negotiations for peace in the Middle East. During his time as prime minister, a ceasefire was signed for the 2006 Lebanon war. Mr. Olmert was behind the last real attempt at reaching an agreement for the creation of two States, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a development resulting from the 1993 Oslo Accords, which were never implemented. “Pope Francis gave us extraordinary attention for more than half an hour, explaining that he follows every development of the conflict daily and that every day he connects with the Christians of Gaza”.

“We presented the Holy Father with our peace proposal for Gaza, which includes an immediate ceasefire, the release of the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, along with the simultaneous release of an agreed-upon number of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, and the resumption of negotiations for the creation of two separate states at peace with each other”, explained the former Palestinian Minister, Al-Kidwa, who is well known not only for his pro-peace stance, but also for being the nephew of the historical leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Arafat.

Mr. Olmert, how can two states be created today, with the presence of ever-increasing illegal settlements by Israeli settlers?

We are proposing Israel’s annexation of a portion of the territory corresponding to four percent of Palestine’s West Bank, to be agreed upon, in exchange for a territory of equal size, which is today part of Israel. A territory that would allow Palestinians to have a corridor connecting the West Bank to Gaza.

Mr. Al-Kidwa, what is the solution for Gaza?

Israel must completely pull out its military from Gaza and allow for the creation of a Palestinian entity to administer it. We think that a temporary and provisional solution would be the establishment of a Council of Commissioners, composed of highly respected technocrats and professionals, not by politicians. The Council would be linked with the Council of Ministers of the Palestinian Authority, which would have to finally prepare for general elections in the Palestinian territories within 24-36 months.

Mr. Olmert, in your opinion, can this exercise in goodwill by both parties be sufficient to guarantee an immediate peace?

No. We are also thinking about the need of a “Temporary Arab Security Presence” (Tasp) in Gaza, which along with the withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), would stabilize the situation. This Arab intervention force would work in connection with the security forces of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), and receive recommendations from the Council of Commissioners. Its main task would be to prevent further possible attacks against Israel from Gaza.

Mr. Al-Kidwa, how could a two-state solution guarantee a peaceful order?

Through the requirement that the State of Palestine be a non-militarized state except for its internal policing needs.

Mr. Olmert, the key issue remains open: Jerusalem’s status.

This is the point Pope Francis seemed most interested in during our meeting. We are thinking about a special status for Jerusalem, which should be administered by a trustee of five nations (among which obviously Israel and Palestine) with full authority over all parts of the city, adhering to the regulations often indicated by the UN Security Council, and assigning a special role to the Kingdom of Jordan, as is the case today for the Esplanade of the Mosques. In any case, we think the Old City should be free from all political control and dedicated to the three monotheistic religions which consider it a holy place of prayer.

How do you deal with both sides’ claims that Jerusalem is the capital of their respective states?

[Olmert] — Jerusalem can be the capital of Israel in the areas that were already part of Israel before 5 June 1967, in addition to the Jewish quarters which were built after 1967, which would be part of the aforementioned 4.4 percent.

[Al-Kidwa] — And Al Quds, capital of Palestine, will include all the Arab quarters that were not part of Israel before the war of ’67.

One final question, Mr. Olmert. This well-articulated plan risks remaining no more than wishful thinking. It is in complete contrast with the current Israeli government’s intentions.

People who know me know what I think about the government led by Netanyahu and subject to Ben Gvir and Smotrich’s extremist fanaticism. But I am reassured by the fact that 70 percent of Israelis are tired of this coalition, of the enormous damage it has caused and continues to cause Israel. Israel is a powerful democracy, and it will be able to democratically overcome this government.

With which alternatives?

The civil society that has been heavily protesting against Netanyahu for two years will be able to propose new forms of leadership which we can’t even imagine today. Because, I repeat, Israel is a democratically alive and solid country.

By Roberto Cetera